An insight into viscosity and conductivity in the formulation of co-axial electrospun Carica papaya leaf extract

Abstract

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the application of the coaxial electrospun method for the production of natural extracts (papaya leaf extract) fibre films. This was achieved through utilising different polymers and with a focus on the conductivity and the viscosity of polymer solutions as critical parameters to generate successful fibres.Significance: Electrospinning is a promising trending manufacturing method for incorporating thermolabile herbal extracts using coaxial electrospun features. However, the complexity of the electrospinning process and the feasibility of the product required precise scrutiny.Methods: The electrospinning solution parameters (conductivity and viscosity) were evaluated by employing various ratios of Eudragit L100 (EL100) and Eudragit L100-55 (EL100-55) pre-spinning polymeric blend solutions. The electrospinning process and ambient parameters were optimised. Following that, the in-silico physicochemical properties of phytochemical marker, rutin, were illustrated using SwissADME web tool. Both freeze-dried Carica papaya leaf extract and its produced films were characterised using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), polarised light microscopy, and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD).Results: The optimal values of conductivity (≈40–44 × 10⁻⁴ S/m) and viscosity (≈32–42 × 10⁻³Pa·s) were determined for producing evenly distributed and small fibre diameters in SEM images. These parameters significance was highlighted in acquiring and maintaining adequate tangential stress for fibre elongation, which would consequently affect the morphology and diameter of the fibres formed.Conclusion: In conclusion, the solution, process, and ambient parameters are significant in developing natural extracts into films via electrospinning technology, and this includes the promising Carica papaya leaf extract films produced by coaxial electrospinning.

Graphical Abstract

Coaxial electrospinning is a promising technique for producing two-layered oral pharmaceutical dosage forms (the core and shell layers). It is a technique to generate fibrous structures with a large surface area to volume ratio through the elongation of electrified jets in the presence of an external electric field. Electrospinning’s versatility produces fibres that are used in a wide range of fields, including drug delivery systems, scaffolds for various tissue engineering, and wound dressings.

Keywords:

• Electrospinning
• fibres
• physicochemical
• conductivity
• viscosity
• coaxial
• papaya leaf extract
• heat-sensitive

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support received from the Universiti Sains Malaysia through Bridging GRA grant (304/PFARMASI/6316597) in carrying out this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s). The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Data availability statement

Data available within the article or its supplementary materials – The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Bridging (GRA) grant 2022/0525/BG0367.